Latch mechanism



March 19, 1968 R. D. w. BERG 3,374,020

LATCH MECHANISM Filed May 3, 1966 INVENTOR ROBERT 0. M! 55/26 Wm, Wm

A TQRZMEKS United States Patent ()fitice 3,374,020 LATCH MECHANISM Robert D. W. Berg, 9200 Upton Ave. S., Bloomington, Minn. 55431 Filed May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 546,767 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-475) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking unit for a closure comprising a rigid L- shaped latch bolt which is spring projected and secured to a mounting plate by a pair of U-shaped brackets.

This invention relates to a spring lock for swinging doors. More particularly, this invention relates to a sliding bolt or latch assembly which can be fitted in metal doors such as those closure members used in athletic lockers.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive sliding latch-type device which can be easily fitted on a swinging door. Another object is to provide a lock assembly comprised of only a few parts with these parts preferably being made of sheet metal parts which are easily formed. Still another object is to provide a spring lock device which cooperates with a door jamb of a locker in closed position and which can be padlocked to prevent displacement of the lock. These and other objects will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing the various parts of the latch assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the latch assembly; and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the lock installed on a swinging door.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the latch assembly is comprised of four metal parts which can be easily formed from flat steel. A slotted flat base plate is provided with slot 12 which is wishbone in configuration, having a projection 14. Holes 16 are provided to receive screws for securing the plate to the inside of a swinging door.

The sliding bolt is an L-shaped latch element 20 having an upper leg 28 with notch 24 and a lower leg 26 having a sloped-forward edge 21 provided with a recess 22. A U-shaped bracket 30 has a hairpin section 34 which forms channel 38 and the section 34 is integral with a foot portion 36 on either side thereof. The section 34 slidably receives upper leg 28 of the latch element when the parts are assembled.

To prevent movement of the latch element, aligned apertures 32 are provided through each side of section 34 to receive a pin or padlock.

A channelled latch housing 40 includes an elongated hairpin-shaped portion 46 with channel 42 and foot parts 44 integral with portion 46. Portion 46 slidably receives the lower leg 26 of the latch element 20 and is slightly longer than leg 26. Foot parts 44, however, terminate short of the length of portion 46 leaving cut-away spaces 48 approximately equivalent to the length of portions 36.

When assembled, section 34 of bracket 30 is passed through slot 12 of plate 10 with the sides of section 34 straddling projection 14. The foot portions 36 are then spot welded or otherwise secured to the underside of plate 10. Next, the upper leg 28 of latch element 20 is fitted 3,374,020 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 in channel 38 and thereafter housing 40 is attached to the underside of plate 10 with the foot parts 44 of housing 40 abutting foot portions 36 of brakcet 30. Foot portions 36 fit within spaces 48.

A compression spring 60 is fitted over projection 14 of plate 10 to bear on the notch 24 of latch element 20 so that edge 21 of the latch 20 is normally urged to protrude beyond housing 40.

When fitted on a locker door 58 with housing 40 entered through a slot in the door, edge 21 cooperates with a door jamb 66 to permit swinging closure but prevent opening until latch element 20 is manually actuated against the bias of spring 60. Recess 22 of latch end 21 cooperates with the jamb 66 in a flush fitting arrangement.

It will be appreciated that among other advantages, the entire assembly may be easily removed and replaced. It will also be understood that the latch assembly can be used in closure applications other than metal. locker doors. While the assembly is preferably made entirely of metal parts, other materials can be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking unit for a swinging door comprising a relatively flat base plate with a slot and a channelled latch housing having a fiat base positioned against one side of said plate, an L-shaped latch element having a first leg with a latching end and a second leg generally perpendicular to said first leg, said first leg being slidably arranged within said channelled housing, a generally U- shaped channelled bracket having a fiat base adjacent the base of said latch housing and positioned on the same side of said plate as said latch housing with its U-shaped portion extending through said slot, said second leg protruding through said slotted plate to be slidably accommodated within said bracket, resilient means for urging said latch element to one side whereby said latching end extends beyond the end of said housing to engage a door jamb and means associated with said bracket for preventing said second leg from sliding within said bracket, said first leg of said latch element comprising a slidable handle for actuating said unit.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein the means associate-d with said bracket for preventing said second leg from sliding includes aligned apertures in the sides of said bracket for receiving a pin.

3. The unit of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is a spring which bears on one end of said latch element.

4. The unit of claim 3 wherein said one end of the latch element is notched to receive said spring.

5. The unit of claim 4 wherein the slot in said base plate is provided with a projection and said projection receives and retains one end of said spring.

6. The unit of claim 1 wherein said latching end of said latch element has a sloped forward edge which is notched to accommodate a door jamb.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,117 6 1918 Barnard.

2,336,458 12/1943 Bales et al 292-148 X 2,746,784 5/ 1956' Holritz 292- 2,916,905 12/1959 Podlesak 292173 X 3,174,314 3/1965 Johnson 292-148 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

